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IT chiefs ignore leading edge technology
Prefer 'tried and tested' systems to cope with information explosion...

By Graham Hayday

Published: Friday 17 January 2003

UK businesses are bracing themselves for an 'information explosion' this year - but are reluctant to use leading edge technology to cope.

A poll of 40 IT directors from FTSE 100 companies conducted by Optima Research on behalf of database optimisation specialist CopperEye found that 35 believe IT will play an increasing role in meeting their business objectives during the next three years, and that spiraling volumes of information will need to be tackled.

Well over a third of the IT directors surveyed felt the amount of data that will need to be processed in the next three years will increase by 100-fold or more. Just under a third expect a 10-fold increase.

The report also revealed that in an uncertain economic climate, buyers of technology tend towards products and services that are tried and tested, rather than being a guinea pig for innovative technology.

Only two companies indicated that they would look for innovative technology to address their business issues. More than half said they would implement new technology, but only once it had proved its worth and stability, while the rest said they would consider market-leading, tried and tested solutions.

It is highly unlikely that companies will risk their future business on the back of new technologies, however good they may profess to be, the study concludes.

Steven Rose, CEO of CopperEye, said: "Looking at the results, we believe that companies are being put under more pressure to deliver effective information that is critical to operations. It indicates that decisions regarding technology solutions will need to be a lot smarter than in the past and that more economical solutions will be purchased to deliver increased efficiencies."